This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D X, 14 (13-14); A III, 8; body depth 2.4-2.8 in SL; eye 3.7-4.8 in HL; interorbital 5.6-7.4 in HL; scale rows above lateral line rising obliquely toward dorsal profile; predorsal scales extend forward to middle of interorbital; preopercular notch and interopercular knob are weakly developed; vomer with narrow, crescentic, V-shaped patch of granular teeth without a medial posterior extension; caudal fin slightly emarginate. Colouration when fresh or in life reddish brown, grey-brown, or olive-brown on head, back, and upper sides; the lower sides and belly reddish brown or silvery pink in adults and brownish white in juveniles; dorsal, caudal, anal, and pelvic fins are reddish brown, with a black spot at base of uppermost pectoral-fin rays; two dark-brown stripes on the upper half of lateral body, first from upper end of operculum to posterior end of soft-dorsal-fin base, continuing to upper caudal-fin base and the second stripe from behind upper middle operculum straight to mid-base of caudal fin, preceded by a squarish dark blotch on upper operculum (Ref. 138536).